Humidifier



P. A. HERR May 1,12, 1953 HUMIDIFIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31,1950 LII .1 53] INVENTOR. BY PAULA/154R.

May 12, 1953 P. A. HERR HUNIDIFIER 2 mil-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1950 1NVEN TOR.

FIUL .4. HERR.

g ains o w t r- T is i di t s clea y,

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,638,331 HUMIDIFIERPaul A. Herr, Lancaster, Pa. Application July 31, 1950, Serial No.176,855

3 Claims.

This invention relates to humidifying equipment and more particularly tothe class including that of space humidifying units.

The technical development of modern humidifying equipment has beenlargely in connection with the design and use of air-conditioningsystems. such systems include the introduction of heating or coolingcomponents of proper size and capacity, and the use of water to removeundesirable dust and floating materials from the air, the air beingindirectly humidified by this liquid as it washes it. In some cases thewater humidifies the air excessively and necessitates the use ofmechanical or other physical means to remove or reduce it, before itbecomes the working or active air of the system involved. Thisarrangement for humidifying is not accurately controllable and is but aby-product of the air-washing processes employed. The water isintroduced by drenching the air passing through the system by roughspraying it with colossal quantities poured across the forced aircurrents of the system by continuous streams of the water.

If the air system is shut ofhthe air conditioning system is put out ofaction. If the water is shut off, the system can be continued in use butthe air is not fully conditioned, because it is not washed. If thewashing function is interfered with in any way, its effectivenesslikewise is affected. It cannot be varied or proportioned to suithumidifying requirements, without upsetting the working of the system,of which the water washing is a part. Furtherit is generally impracticalto install a Whole air conditioning system just for the purpose ofhumidifying a limited space in a building requiring it. Since suchsystems do not meet specific humidifying requirements and are notcontrollable, they cannot be used for humidifying alone They have aboutthe same status as the use of a quart of water in a water pot of the oldtime hot-air furnace.

This invention is developed for the sole purpose of providing controlledhumidity for a specific space or a predetermined occasion. Controlledhumidity is an essential requirement, in many processing plants. In themajority of instances, such humidity must be added to the contents ofthe natural surrounding atmosphere existing,

' especially during the heating period. This is true one cubic foot ofsaturated air However at hold 9,448 that there because at can hold only.475 grain of water. 75 F., the same cubic foot of air can isrelativelyvery little actual moisture in outdoor air during the cold wintermonths, even if the outdoor atmosphere has a relative humidity ofTherefore, thus with two changes of air perhour, a heated space, withthe originating air supplied under such conditions, would soon fill upwith air'having very low moisture content. It has been observed that lowhumidity in'the air during cold weather, results in many colds amongnormal individuals. It is also a well known fact that humidity has muchto do with the way furniture in wood furniture factories, as well aswooden doors, contract, and expand because of temperature and humidityvariations. Experimental installations have shown'that the propercontrol of humidity has ameliorated bronchial asthma in individuals, thehatching of eggs during periods of low outside humidity, and theprocessing of certain fabrics. Dry air, during such seasons, absorbswater from hygroscopic materials until the vapor pressure of themoisture in the air comes to equilibrium with the moisture in them.Themoisture content of hygroscopic materials varies quasi-automaticallywith relative humidity. Whenever dry air comes into contact withhygroscopic materials it willabsorb moisture from them. This can be verycostly where the materials are sold or bought by weight.

By excessively drying many hygroscopic fabbrics, an appreciable loss ofstrength results, due to resulting brittleness of their fibers. Thisdrying is usually accompanied by shrinkage in size and body, that mayimpair the finish, general appearance and use of the product. Somehygroscopic materials when dried too much cannot be returned to theiroriginal strength or form. Textile fabrics exposed to extreme dryness,become so noticeably brittle that it is often necessary to operate themachinery that processes them, and more expensively, at reduced speeds.Dry air acts as insulator creating high static potentials or electricalcapacity efiects in the materials passing through or parts of themachinery that operate in it. Static electricity under such conditionsis a very serious hazard. A machine with a static charge will attractand accumulate lint and dust. It has caused conditions that haveresulted in explosions, fire and shocks to individuals. Plants handlingchemicals, grain and other dust explosive materials have as a practicalrequirement and established practice to be guarded against suchsituations, and can usually overcome themby maintaining a high humidityto dissipate the static electricity as 'it forms, preventing potentialhigh enough to create a spark discharge.

Eminent medical authorities accept the fact that human comfort andhealth are directly connected with proper relative humidity. It isestablished that 2. 1 F. reduction in temperature is permissible inincrease in relative humidity. Dry air absorbs moisture from thedelicate mucous membranes of the upper respirat-ory tract or nasalpassages, increasing the susceptibility to colds. Dry air invariablycarries more dust, which incident aggravates and irritates thesedelicate membranes, and is particularly troublesome to persons withpulmonary or sinus ailments. This condition has been found to be greatlyrelieved by the increase of relative humidity of the room in which theyare in, by artificial humidifying equipment.

This invention is made in the form of an isolated unit, embodying theprinciples of an air aspirator. It comprises, a cabinet of suitable sizeand form, employing a high pressure water pump, blower, mist nozzles,filter and a motor to actuate its mechanisms. It includes a manuallycontrolled system of tilting louvers to control the air passing throughthe unit and direct it through an automizing chamber moistened by thewatery mist arising from the nozzles. This control can be mechanicallyoperated to proportion the resultant humidity to an accurate degree.

The atomizing chamber is created in the cabinet in an offset positionwith respect to the air flow, so that the misty atmosphere inducedtherein by the sprayers or nozzles will be aspirated into the air atdischarge as it leaves the cabinet. The whole arrangement is oneintended to produce controlled humidity in an air discharge from ahumidifying unit of compact form, and complete in itself.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improvedhumidifying unit that will avoid, one or more, of the disadvantages andlimitations current in the previous art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedhumidifying unit that will employ an aspirating system of moistening airdischarged from it.

A further object of the hereindescribed invention is to provide a newand improved humidifying unit that can be controlled to supplyhumidified air, accurately and effectively, for use in the surroundingspace and in proportion to the needs deemed desirable therefor.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedhumidifying unit operationally independent, employing mist creatingnozzles for providing moisture in a suspended atomized form availablefor absorption into air currents developed in the unit to be dis chargedtherefrom for humidifying the surrounding space at a controlled rate,means being included for diverting the currents so their absorptionaleffect on the moisture can be varied by changes in rate of movementdirection and quantity of the air in its intimacy with the mist.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new improvedindividual humidifying unit that will be effective and convenient tohandle and install, and whose construction will be attractive as well aseconomical to manufacture.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fullydisclosed.

For a better understanding of the invention and the objects, thereofreference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings inconjunction with the following description outline a particular form ofthe invention, by way of example, not of limitation, while the appendedclaims indicate the legal scope thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a humidifying unit embodying thisinvention, portions being broken away to show its interior construction;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken through the unit on line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the unit with the front plate removed;

Figure 4 is a detail in perspective of the louver mechanism used in thisembodiment;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic outline of the electrical system employed inthis unit.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout thedrawings.

The particular construction shown in the figures consists of arectangular cabinet i lower half including a front plate it whichpreferably removable to permit facile access to the interior works ofthe unit. The plate H is held to the interior framework E2 of theccbinet by the screws I 3, located suitably; likewise the cover M at thetop of the cabinet is removable to allow access to its upper portion.

The cabinet is divided into two chambers 55, iii, upper and lowerrespectively. The lower chamber it is separated from the upper amber 45by a watertight partition ii. The upper chamber serves as a partialwater reservoir to hold water up to the top level of an overflow pipe18. A float valve it, connected to the water supply piping all controlsthe amount of water supplied to the upper chamber which forms a tanktherefor. The coupling 2| on the piping .2 9 provides means for theconvenient connection of the unit to an external water service supply.The rectangular walls of a duct pass vertically up through the chamber15, and terminate below a rectangular opening protdded in the cover M,which is aligned therewitl'i. The openin 2 3 is neatly finished. on" ina conventional manner. The distance between the top level of the duct 22and the cover M is about six inches normally but will vary in differentsizes of units to suit. The space must be sufficient to allow themoisture used in humidifying the currents of air out of the duct, to mixand combine to the extent designed.

The plate H has raised inlet orifices 23 arranged in it to serve as anintake into the lower chamber Hi. The chamber i6 itself has a shelf 25extended horizontally across it for supporting a blower fan '26,connected with an enlarging tapering transformation duct 2i. The duct iscoupled to the duct 22 and the fan blows its forced air verticallythrough them.

In the upper chamber hi, on a level with the outlet of the. duct 221 isa quasi-rectangular frame 28 of piping supported by clips 23 from thewalls of the chamber. This piping frame 28 has a number of nozzles 30for high pressure spraying of water therethrough in a mist or very finespray across the chamber It:v away from the outlet of the duct 22. Thewater is impressed in the piping 28 under high pressure from a rotarypump 3! installed in the chamber H5 underneath, and feeding through theintervening length of pipe 32. The pump. 3.] and blower 26 are alignedwith one another axially so they can be rotated tolet level.

5. gether by the same motor 33. The water is supplied to the pump fromthe'sump created at the bottom of the chamber below the overflow out-The water is normally about 2" deep. The water is passed through afilter 34 which is located in the chamber [6 on its way to the pump andis placed on the pipe 35 coming through from the drain and strainerinstalled in the sump.

' The duct 22 is provided with a louver mechani'sm close to thedischarge opening of the duct 22 and installedinside it. The louverparts con- .sists of a pair of shutters 35 generally thin andrectangular with transverse arcuate contour having their outer edgeportions 3? bent to a sharper curve. Each shutter is supported by a pairof side brackets 38 pivoted together on pins 39 journalled in the narrowwalls of the duct 22. A

toggle mechanism at eachside of the duct 22 having each pair of hingedarms 53 brought together at the top to a nut 43 screw threaded toreceive a'threaded rod 4! extended vertically and terminating in ahandle 55 located above the cover I4.

This louver mechanism controls the flow of air from the duct 22 into theupper space of the chamber l5 as it passes through to the opening I 24into the surrounding atmosphere of the room where the cabinet islocated.

In addition a rectangular blocking plate 42 hinged at its lower edge isplaced in front of the central inlet 43 of flow of blower to control theair into the fan inside. It is manipulated by a rod 44 projecting outfrom it and carrying a knurled nut 45, outside the cabinet. The turningof this nut 45 adjusts the position of the plate 42 to suit the amountof air required by the system. The motor 33 is preferably mounted oncushions 46 of rubber and bolted to the shelf in a manner that makes andkeeps the cabinet noiseless and free from undue vibration. An electricalcircuit 4! runs to the motor 33 through a humidistat 50 shown mounted onthe front of the cabinet and the conventional switch and fuses in ajunction box 48. While I have shown the humidistat mounted on thecabinet, it will be understood that same may be located remotely, ifdesired to suit the user and his convenience. Through a suitable controltransformer 49 and relay 5| it controls the speed of the motor so it canbe adjusted to suit the requirements of the blower 26, independently ofthe plate 42 and shutters 36, which are already set at predeterminedpositions for the occasion and present use of the unit.

A glass mat 52, placed in the chamber H3 in the path of the air enteringit through an opening in its bottom, dry filters the air to the systemand wads of filtering material may be tucked back of the outwardlyprojecting portions forming the ports 23, if so desired, to filter airentering through these ports.

The device functions as follows: the motor 33 is started and operatesthe blower 2G and pump 3|. The air is supplied to the blower 26 throughthe inlet openings and passes through the chamber [B where it cools themotor 33 and passes into the blower. From the blower 26 it flows throughthe ducts 21, '22, and through the chamber above it, passing through theopening 24 into the atmosphere outside. As it passes through the upperchamber l5, it induces a suction of air that draws the clouds of mistymoisture arising from the nozzles 30 into the air stream and humidifiesit. If the mixture tionally changed in the chamber.

of air and moisture is at the proper proportions,

the settings of the shutters 36, and blocking plate 42 are left as theyare. If more humidity is required, the shutters are manually adjusted toan angular position so as to divert the air stream in part into the mistand collect more moisture before it continues through the opening. 3 Theposition of the shutters and their arcuate contour directs the air in acurved path through the mist and gives that portion of the air stream anS-like travel as it travels to the opening in the cover. This may becontrolled to a considerable degree, or the air stream may be reduced involume, varied in speed and direc- The position of the blocking plate 42controls the air flow into the blower and is manually controlled at thenut 45. The variation of the motor speed and of the pump has alreadybeen explained.

The type of nozzles used are those available on the market, and aredesigned to develop a very fine and efiective cloud of moisture in frontof them in a spread out form, when water under high pressure is forcedthrough them. This mist has the characteristics of air and mixes freelywith the stream of air passing out of the ducts 22, and intimatelyinsinuates its moisture quickly and effectively throughout its particlesand thus humidifies it completely in the proportions desired.

Other mechanical features are provided in the unit in conformity withcommon practice and desirable convenience.

The device has all its parts assembled together in a very compactarrangement. It employs an aspiration principle for the humidifying ofthe air projected from the unit. The controls anticipate anexceptionally fine and accurate adjustment of proportions of air andmoisture, in a most convenient and simple manner. The moisture is addedin a very comminuted form indirectly to the air stream and eliminatesthe possibility of drops of water being bodily introduced and carried inthe stream to collect on surrounding objects in an objectional manner.The unit adapts itself to the surrounding atmosphere and temperaturebecause it is operated on the same level and therefore does not createdifferences which have to be taken off after the air leaves the unit. Itis not an essential part of a conventional air-conditioning system. Itoifers economical operation and maintenance, and the simplicity of itscomponents keeps its cost of manufacture down to a comparatively lowlevel. It is readily adapted to other desirable features, such asautomatic operation, portability, and attractiveness.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improvedhumidifier, the assembly and operation thereof will be readilyunderstood, and

it will be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple, inexpensiveand efficient means for carrying out the various objects of theinvention. While I have described the elements best adapted to performthe functions set forth, it is apparent that various changes in form,proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to,without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principlesof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A humidifier comprising a casing having an upper outlet and a lowerair inlet, a partition dividing said casing into upper and lowerchambers, a blower in the lower chamber having a discharge ductextending upwardly through said partition under the outlet and spaceddownwardly therefrom,v said casing having walls spaced from the duct andproviding a water reservoir in the upper chamber about the duct, a pumpin the lower chamber having a supply pipe leading from the reservoir anda discharge pipe extending up wardly into the upper chamber andcommunicating with pipes extending horizontally across outer surfaces ofupper portions of Walls of the duct and carrying nozzles serving tospray water downwardly into space within the upper chamber above watertherein, shutters in the upper chamber disposed at opposite sides of theduct and mounted for swinging movement towards and away from each otherinto and out of position above the upper end of the duct, and actuatingmeans for said shutters servingto swing the shutters to adjustedpositions and hold them in the adjusted positions.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the shutters are plates arouatetransversely in cross section and bowed upwardly, arms extendingdownwardly from ends of said plates and pivoted to opposed walls of theduct, the actuating means for the shutters being connected with the arms8 and when operated imparting vertical swinging movement to the arms andthereby moving the shutters to adjusted positions.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the actuating means for the shuttersconsist of links pivoted at lower ends to the arms at one end of theshut-- ters, a nut having upper ends of said links pivoted thereto, anda vertical rod having a threaded lower portion engaged through the nut,the upper portion of said rod passing outwardly through the top of thecasing and having a turning member at it upper end.

PAUL A. HERR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,981,916 Huntley Nov. 27, 1934" 1,993,498 Winterfield et a1.Mar. 5, 1935 1,993,871 Burnap et a1 Mar. 12, 1935 2,031,055 McKinneyFeb. 18, 1936 2,144,626 Hewitt Jan. 24, 1939 2,159,276 Lawless May 23,1939 2,386,208 Godfrey Oct. 9, 1945

